New top
proposed
for 5th
St. Bridge
By Bruce Corcoran
bruce@chathamvoice.com

About a dozen local residents heard firsthand
the list of four options
on what to do to improve
the Fifth Street Bridge in
Chatham.
The recommended option from Dillon Consulting is to tear off the top
of the bridge and only
rebuild that element.
Adam Sullo, director of
engineering for the municipality, said the consulting firm presented
four options. The first is
to do nothing, the second is to rehabilitate the
bridge in a similar manner as the Parry Bridge
on Keil Drive this past
summer. He said that
option would be relatively expensive for limited
payback.
“This would be a $3-million to $5-million effort,
but we’d only get another
10 to 15 years of life and
we’d be back in the same
situation we are now,” he
said.
The fourth option would

be a full bridge replacement, with a price tag of
an estimated $9.5 million,
Sullo said, “not cheap.”
That leaves the third
option – replacing the
bridge surface, but reusing the foundation.
“We’d reuse the abutments on both sides of
the bridge. The two centre piers would be taken
down to just below the
water line,” Sullo said. “It
would be a fixed span.”
And it would come with
an estimated price tag of
$6.5 million.
He said all signs point to
everything below the water line being stable.
“The foundations on the
bridge, we know there
hasn’t been any movement. They’re on wood
piles,” Sullo said. “Unfortunately we can’t inspect the wood piles, as
they are under a concrete
pile cap. But we are very
confident in the condition of the foundation, as
there has been no movement.
Continued on page 2

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Mary Beth Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

Luca Leggiero, 4, works hard at his swimming skills in the Adapted Swim program at the Chatham-Kent Children’s Treatment Centre under the guidance of student Paige Glasier. The centre was given a $7,500 donation from the Goodlife Kids
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“We could almost get
another entire life out of
the existing foundation,
60-80 years. That’s why
we are leaning towards
that.”
Timeline on the construction would be to begin just after RetroFest in
late May and continue to
the end of the year.
Paul Shettel, co-chair of
the Historic Downtown
Business Improvement
Association (BIA), said
he prefers the recommended option, as well
as the timeline. RetroFest
will proceed without any
street issues, including
the Classic Car Cruise,
which will pass over the
Fifth Street Bridge.
Construction, however,
will impact other downtown summer and fall
events, including Canada
Day celebrations, RibFest, Downtown in the
City Extravaganza and
the Santa Claus parade,
as parking and traffic patterns will be impacted.
The province is providing $2 million in funding

Chatham Voice file photo

The venerable Fifth Street Bridge in Chatham will likely undergo a major renovation this summer. The preferred option is to pull off the top of the bridge, but
use the abutments on either end, and replace the centre pier structures below the waterline. If approved, the bridge would be closed from late May to the end
of the year.

to help with the bridge
improvements, but the
money comes with a ticking caveat – work must
be completed by the end

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Editor - Ext.227
bruce@chathamvoice.com

of the year. Sullo said the
recommended replacement project will meet
that timeline, but a total
replacement would not,
as he anticipated that
would take upwards of a
year to complete.
If the municipality proceeds with the recom-

mended option three, the
bridge will have the same
number of lanes, as Sullo
said they must maintain
a similar bridge weight.
But the second southbound lane would start
sooner.
“We’d have a dedicated
left-hand turn lane onto

King Street,” he said.
“That’s the most common
move through that intersection.”
The public still has another week or so to provide input on the project,
either to the municipal
engineering department
or to Dillon Consulting.

After that, Sullo said municipal staff will compile
the feedback and distribute a letter to residents
and businesses near the
bridge, and likely online.
Staff will also finalize the
environmental study and
present a report to council March 20.

Slots contributed $741K in ’16
The Chatham Voice

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent reported that
the annual contribution
to the municipality from
the operation of the OLG
Slots at Dresden Raceway
for the 2015-16 operating
year is $741,000.
This sum has been allo-

cated to general revenues,
offsetting costs of all municipally delivered services provided to the residents of the Municipality
of Chatham-Kent.
“This significant investment in our community
represented 0.53 per cent
of the 2016 municipal
budget,” Mayor Randy

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Hope said in a release.
“This is money that directly supports the delivery of services to citizens.
Obviously, our municipality’s arrangement with
the OLG is a win-win for
everybody.”
OLG Slots at Dresden
Raceway, which is operated by the Ontario Lottery
and Gaming Corporation
(OLG), has made contributions of more than $9.4
million to the municipal-

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Sales - Ext.225
darlene@chathamvoice.com

ity since the site opened
in 2001. The casino also
employs more than 90
people and has received
more than 2.7 million visits since opening.
“OLG is proud to be a vital part of Chatham-Kent
for 14 years and we look
forward to continuing to
build on that support.”
said Jake Pastore, OLG’s
Director, Municipal &
Community Relations, in
a release.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 3

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Local
dragons
take to
the ice in
Ottawa

nation’s capitol.
Although both teams
The image of dragon have plenty of experiboat paddlers slash- ence, no one has any
ing their narrow craft idea what to expect, said
through the water will be Charlene King of the
in for a major revision this Raging Dragons.
weekend as
“We know
m e m b e r s “We know the boats
the
boats
of two lo- have been specially
have been
cal
teams
specially
compete on made and have skate
made and
water of the blades on the bottom.” have skate
frozen vari- - Charlene King
blades on
ety during
the
botthe first-ever Ottawa Ice tom,” she said.
Boat Festival.
Instead of traditional
Members of the Rag- oars, the craft will be proing Dragons of Cha- pelled by oars with picks
tham-Kent and the Breast on the bottom.
Buddies
“They look
teams were
like
horses
“I’m not sure what to
among a sehooves,”
lect group expect. All I know for
said
Colof 60 teams sure is that if we end
lette
Jofrom across up dumping the boat,
hanson
a
N o r t h we won’t get wet.”
member of
A m e r i c a - Don Verhaeghe
the Breast
who
will
Buddies
compete in
who have
the event, to be held on named their all-female
the Rideau Canal in the team the Ice Pix for the
The Chatham Voice

Contributed image

Members of the Raging Dragons of Chatham-Kent and the Breast Buddies teams will take their dragon boating skills from the
water to the ice as they compete at the Ottawa Ice Boat Festival.

unique event.
King said 14 members
of the Raging Dragons
will travel to Ottawa. The
team has been actively
fundraising for the event
and has had strong community support with Preferred Insurance being a
major sponsor.
“People really want to
help,” she said. “We had
a steak dinner fundraiser
at the Imperial Club that
sold out quickly.”
She said the Dragons

are comprised of men
and women and members don’t have to be a
cancer survivor.
“We’re always looking
for more members,” she
said. “The rowing is a
great physical activity
and while we’re competitive, we have a lot of
fun.”
More information about
the team is available at
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /

RagingDragonsofChatham-Kent
King said her team
would have members
from Chatham-Kent and
Lambton County.
“Both local teams will
be rooting for each other,” she said. “We have
people who are involved
with both.”
The dragon boaters
have been practicing
in Petrolia where each

session involves nearly
1,000 strokes, using paddles while sitting on a
pool deck.
Don Verhaeghe, one
of the area’s foremost
sweeps, will be steering
the Ice Pix boat.
“I’m not sure what to
expect,” Verhaeghe said.
“All I know for sure is
that if we end up dumping the boat, we won’t
get wet.”

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THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

News

Trip and slips to be
replaced downtown
King Street sidewalks in the core to be replaced
By Bruce Corcoran
bruce@chathamvoice.com

Chatham’s downtown will undergo a facelift of sorts this summer, only you’ll have to look
down to notice.
Sidewalks along King Street

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between Third Street and Adelaide Street, as well as along
Fourth Street to Wellington
Street, will be ripped up and replaced.
The work cannot come soon
enough for the Historic Downtown Chatham Business Improvement
Association
(BIA).
Co-chair Paul Shettel said
the sidewalks have been an
eyesore and trip hazard for
some time.
“Places have had to be
shaved down and it’s mismatched,” he said. “It will
clean up the look of the
downtown.”
The red stamped concrete
will be replaced in July and
August by more traditional
white concrete, Shettel said.
Work is expected to take between eight and 10 weeks.
Connie Beneteau, the BIA’s
office administrator, looks
forward to the improvements.
“It will be awesome. It’s

hopefully going to help with the
downtown tree roots, as they
will be shaved down,” she said.
The mature downtown trees
have pushed the existing sidewalks up in many places, adding to the trip hazards of the uneven sidewalks.
Shettel understood that there
would be some short-term impact, as construction will take
place during some summer
events. He said the work is being done in sections, one side of
the street at a time.
“People will just have to plan
for alternate points of access for
a while,” he said.
Parking will not change downtown, as no curbing will be
moved.
Other sidewalks in the downtown core will be placed into
the municipal-wide sidewalk
replacement program, Shettel
said.
The ones being replaced were
in dire need, he said, as some
parts were nearly four decades
old.

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

After nearly 40 years, Mother Nature is winning the fight against Chatham’s downtown sidewalks, as the mature trees are pushing up the concrete, causing trip hazards. That all changes this summer, as the sidewalks throughout much of the downtown will be replaced.

C-K’s pop continues to drop
2016 census numbers indicate another population decline of 2% from 2011

biggest single factor is what
is happening with jobs,” he
said. “But the thing you don’t
know is what is happening beEarly 2016 Canada Census
tween the two census takings.
numbers are in, and ChaWe could have dipped below
tham-Kent continues to lose
101,000 in 2013 and then come
population.
up a bit.”
Between 2011 and 2016, the
He cited our lower unemmunicipality saw its popuployment rate these days – 5.8
lation drop to 101,647 from
per cent in November
– as a strong sign our
economy is in much
better shape locally
now than it has been
in recent years.
“We lost a lot of
Jim Daley of Chatham is seen people between 2006
and 2011, almost exhere with Luce Cools picking
clusively due to jobs,
up his new fully equipped
particularly when the
2016 Chrysler 200S All
auto industry sufWheel Drive. This is his 8th
fered the way it did,”
Shropshire said.
vehicle purchased from Luce!
While the econoEnjoy your new Chrysler
my has rebounded
200S Jim!
somewhat, he added the municipality
also began looking
at resident attraction
351 Richmond St., Chatham after the 2011 census,
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By Bruce Corcoran
bruce@chathamvoice.com

103,671. That’s a decrease of
two per cent. But the rate of
decline is slowing. From 2006
to 2011, our population declined by 4.2 per cent.
Don Shropshire, CAO for the
municipality, said the lower
population numbers weren’t a
surprise.
“From our perspective, the

Loyal Customer

Chatham

ample of that is we’re the only
community in Canada that has
been identified as a Welcoming Community (by the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
in 2016),” he said.
By having such a designation,
Shropshire anticipated immigrants will see the benefits of
moving to Chatham-Kent. He
said often newly landed immigrants generally flock to large
urban centres to get settled in a
country, and then look to find a
more permanent place to live.
The municipality also works
with provincial and federal
governments to attract and integrate newcomer immigrants
through the Newcomer Attraction Program and the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration
Partnership.
Municipal and community
partners are working together
to promote the community as a
preferred destination for those
who prefer smaller communities that have cultural and lifestyle amenities such as active
retirees.
Having a lower unemployment rate is one thing to attract
citizens, Shropshire said.
Continued on page 5

Food Freedom Day is
the day when the average Canadian has earned
enough income to pay his
or her grocery bill for the
entire year.
This year, that day fell
on Feb. 8, a day when
members of the Kent
Federation of Agriculture
recognized the event by
donating fresh fruit, vegetables and meat to two
area food banks.
In 2016, according to
Statistics Canada, Canadians are expected to
have spent 10.7 per cent
of their disposable income on food.
MaryAnne Udvari, KFA
Food Freedom Day co-ordinator invited members
of the KFA and area donors to a presentation
at the Salvation Army
Church on Orangewood
Road in Chatham.
A large table held baskets of apples, sweet
potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, jarred pickles
and packaged beef and
pork for the Salvation
Army food banks and
Outreach for Hunger, all
from the farmers of Chatham-Kent.
“This is something that

Canadian should celebrate; only 39 days into
the new year and Canadians have earned
enough income for their
entire year’s grocery
bill,” Udvari said. “Safe
healthy food is one of the
most important things in
a person’s life, and Canadians are very fortunate
to enjoy this luxury.”
Udvari also said to keep
safe, healthy good on our
tables, Canadians need to
do their part in keeping
farmers viable by buying
local.
With this third Food
Freedom Day event, the
KFA not only showcases the fresh produce and
meat home-grown here in
Chatham-Kent, it shows
the generosity of farmers
giving back to the people
who can’t always afford
to buy fresh food for their
families.
Capt. Stephanie Watkinson with the Salvation
Army Family Services
said with the rising cost
of housing in the area,
she is not surprised to see
food budgets suffering.
“Customers at our food
bank are thrilled and we
are blessed to get fresh,
healthy food grown locally,” she said of the
donation from the KFA,

“especially at this time of
year.”
Cindy Parry, representing Outreach for Hunger,
said the yearly donation
from the KFA is something very appreciated
by the families using the
services of the food bank.
“Since October, we have
had a good run with donations, but this time of
year, the fresh food is
very much appreciated,”

Parry said.
Mayor Randy Hope,
who was on hand for the
donation, said it is important for events such
as Food Freedom Day
to make people aware
our food comes from the
fields, not the grocery
store.
“People around the
world are envious of us,
having fresh, safe food
in our own backyard.

I don’t think we take
enough advantage of that
fact,” Hope said.
For
third-generation
farm family member
Krystle Van Roboys,
whose family donated
jarred pickles from The
Pickle Station for the
third year, the gesture is
just a token of their appreciation to the community.

Having higher paying
jobs is the next goal.
“We’ve done a good job
getting people back to
work. Now we have to do
a better job in raising the
wages, as that is another
attraction,” he said. “We
have to set up the training
for better paying jobs.”
That training comes in
the form of skilled trades
apprenticeships, college
and university education.
“There are really good
paying jobs to be had in
Chatham-Kent, but sometimes we don’t have the
workforce to take advantage of those jobs,” Shropshire said.
He said there are signs
life is picking up in Chatham-Kent, pointing to
the unemployment rate,
a declining caseload in
Ontario Works locally,
modest business growth
assessment, and a real estate market that enjoyed a
great year in 2016.
“I look at the housing
market, talk to neighbours buying and selling,
and real estate agents –
this is the hottest market
in 20 years,” he said.
In urban Chatham-Kent,
every community lost
population, according to
the census, except Dresden and Tilbury. Gains in
those communities were
modest at best.

Enjoy what
we have in
C-K
In Canada, we are particularly lucky that in just 39
days, the average citizen has worked long enough
to pay for groceries for the entire year. Food Freedom Day took place on Feb. 8 this year.
The fact we have grocery stores we can walk into
and get whatever we need, including
fresh produce and meat, is something we take for granted. And
thanks to the Kent Federation of
Agriculture, our area food banks
will also be able to supply fresh,
local food to those people in need.
So many people bemoan the idea Chatham has no
jobs, no good stores or shopping and nothing to do.
That is so frustrating for the people who own the
local businesses, stores, restaurants and attractions
that make Chatham-Kent unique. It’s also false.
We have immediate access to the freshest and
safest locally grown produce and meat that we only
have to drive down the highway a few minutes to
get fresh from the field. Don’t have a car, you say?
You can still walk or take the bus to veggie and
fruit stands on virtually every corner in Chatham
during the summer months.
You can even go into the fields and pick your own
strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and apples.
Too few of us don’t take advantage of that fact.
Often, it’s only if family or friends from afar come
that we take the time to pick fruit, or watch maple
syrup being made.
We have so much to be thankful for in Chatham-Kent, and having 2,200 area farms is one of
them. We all know that moment when you bite
into your first cob of sweet corn in the season, or
make a salad with veggies fresh from a field or put
that first steak of the season on the barbecue from
a local butcher. That is the joy of having some of
Ontario’s most fertile farmland all around us.
We have that, a low unemployment rate, and
communities ripe with history such as Buxton and
Dresden, and the Great Lakes, and beaches…
It’s time to be grateful for all we have and to take
advantage of everything that is in our own backyard.

Letters to the editor policy
The Chatham Voice welcomes letters to the editor.
Our preferred method to receive letters is via e-mail to
bruce@chathamvoice.com (use “Letter” in the subject
line).
You can also drop them off or mail them to us at The
Chatham Voice, 84 Dover St., Unit 2, Chatham, Ont,
N7L 1T1.
The Chatham Voice reserves the right to edit letters
to the editor. All letters need to be signed.

Advertising policy

The publisher of this newspaper, CK Media Inc., reserves the right to clarify or refuse any advertisement
based on its sole discretion. The publisher reserves the
right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement
without notice or penalty to either party.
Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the
amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the
error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next
publication date.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Opinion

Laughter, the best medicine
Sir: It was a long anxious day anticipating the
arrival of that special document to be delivered by
my favorite and friendly
post person. Then, suddenly a noise on the front
porch. It was here!
Containing my excitement, I carefully searched
through the pack of mail
and flyers and found
what I was looking for,
the hydro bill. I knew that
a rebate was expected and
promised by the government. I was shaking like
leaf knowing that my

life would improve
greatly with some
extra cash.
I ripped open the
envelope wildly,
like a young child
opening a present on his
birthday, unfolded it and
read each line carefully and there it was, the
eight per cent provincial
rebate, $1.94. I was giddy
with excitement knowing
that now I will have to
recalculate my monthly
budget.
I will take 60 cents and
divide it up equally

for gas, water and
hydro, 20 cents
each. Another 60
cents will go to
groceries. 60 cents
will be earmarked
for general expenses for
my vehicle. The leftover
14 cents will go to coincidental expenditures and
emergencies.
If God is willing and no
emergencies arise, I can
save that 14 cents every
month for a year and I
will have enough money
to buy myself something
nice at the dollar store.

I’ve had my eye on some
black shoelaces for my
dress shoes for over a
year now.
Thank you, Premier
Wynne, I now see your
vision to help people with
the costs of everyday
living.
P.S. You may want to
send your calculator in
for some service work.
The PST portion on my
bill should have been
$3.42.
Don Heinhuis
Chatham

Of education and the facts
Sir: It was refreshing
to read Anne Stewart’s
letter in The Chatham
Voice, Jan. 26 issue. How
exciting if all teachers
taught as Anne writes.
She knows the answer to
all our problems can be
solved if understand a
few lines in the beloved
apostle John’s Gospel
For God so loved the
world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in
him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

(John 3:16),
There’s nothing
wrong in studying
as long as one always keeps to the
truths expressed in
the Bible. The downturns
of life in this crazy mixedup world can make us
wonder if God still love
us! But God so loved the
world ...
By the way there’s a lot
of talk about fake news
these days, but don’t
forget President Trump
has no faith in the news

media. “They’re very
hostile. These are
very hostile people. They’re very
dishonest, these
are very dishonest
people.”
Mark Twain took a job as
a reporter with a Virginia
City, Nevada, newspaper
in the fall of 1862. Later he
said a writer should: “get
your facts first and then
you can distort ‘em as
much as you please.”
Twain, who was friendly
with Rudyard Kipling,

later wrote about the British author, “Between us,
we cover all knowledge;
he covers all that can be
known and I cover the
rest.”
No wonder Mark Twain
was a pseudonym!
Don’t take me too
seriously, folks. I was a
newspaper reporter and
editor for 25 years so I
have a lot of respect for
The Chatham Voice!
Stephen J. Beecroft
Chatham

The Chatham Voice is printed by:
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byTOP
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No material from this edition may be reproduced without
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PAGE 8

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BLENHEIM OFFICE

BROKERAGE
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Elliot Wilton*
519-358-8755

42 Talbot St. W.

519-676-5444

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

VISIT OUR BLOG! Stay up-to-date on home ownership.

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Chatham-Kent MLS Sold Ends - First Month of 2017.
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Source: MLS Data, Chatham-Kent Real Estate Board, February 01, 2017.

Pride of Ownership is evident in this fully finished rancher. Main
floor approximately 1300 square feet with new hardwood flooring,
bright white kitchen with loads of cupboards and stainless steel
appliances, 2 + 1 bedroom, 2 full baths, one with Jacuzzi tub. New
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857 Grand Ave. W.

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Less than a month after
a fire devastated three local businesses, the owners
revealed Feb. 8 they will
soon have a new temporary location – all under
the same roof in The Bargain Shop’s old store in
the Nortown Plaza.
Being under one roof
is how it has been for 15
years with Sacwal, Ideal
Decorating and the Lighting & Accent Gallery. But
in mid-January, the three
adjoined businesses suffered a fire that destroyed
their St. Clair Street location.
Since that time, they’ve
set up shop at temporary
locations, including Caldwell’s Brand Source right
next door on St. Clair, with
the intent to find a new
home, and eventually rebuild.
Harry Verhey, who is part
of Sacwal and the owner
of the building, said the
fire was devastating to
all three businesses. All
on-site inventory was destroyed.
Alanna Aarssen, one of
the partners behind Sacwal, said quick and contin-

ued support of the community has been greatly
appreciated.
None of the businesses
have display areas at the
moment. That will change
Feb. 21, the target date for
opening in the temporary
location.
For the three businesses,
everyone agreed on the
importance of remaining
together.
“We wanted to stay together. Our customers
tend to cross shop,” Aarssen said.
Al Birkby of Ideal is glad
to see all three stores staying close.
“We could have all split
up, but we work as a
team,” he said. “We’re
going to come back stronger.”
Jim Kelly, of the Lighting & Accent Gallery, said
staying together just made
sense.
“This is a united store.
It has been for years,” he
said.
The temporary location
has nearly 11,000 square
feet of floor space, about
a third of the total space
available at the old location, Verhey said
The new location is quite
different from the other

Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice

From left, Shannon and Jim Kelly of Lighting & Accent Gallery; Mike Peach, Harry Verhey and Alanna Aarssen of Sacwal
Flooring Centres; and Al and Carolyn Birkby and Monica Massa of Ideal Decorating announced Feb. 8 the three stores will
stay together at a temporary location in Nortown Plaza. Their original location further up St. Clair Street suffered a devastating
fire in mid-January.

one, he added, as now all
three businesses are in one
large open area.
“It’s really a big-box environment, as we’re all
under one roof,” he said.
Birkby added he is looking forward to setting up
in the Nortown Plaza location.
For Kelly, he can’t wait to
have a showroom again.
“People looking to buy
a light fixture want to see
it,” he said.
Aarssen said they have
somehow continued to
operate, even without
a location, and credited
staff with going to huge

lengths to make it happen.
“We’ve filled all our customers’ orders. We’re still
on the road measuring
jobs,” she said. “Working
out of my car has been a
bit of a challenge.”
Birkby said Ideal’s clients
have been amazing after
the fire.
“After doing this for 30
years, we do have a great
client base and they have
been very supportive,” he
said.
Kelly added the local
business community has
also been supportive.
“The local community
has been fantastic. Local

businesses have offered us
more storage space than
you can possibly imagine,” he said.
Verhey said he was impressed by the help from
the municipality, specifically from Stuart McFadden, acting director of
economic development,

who was on the phone by
10 a.m. the day of the fire
to see how he could be of
assistance.
As for plans to rebuild,
Verhey said it’s a no brainer.
Verhey said he’s met
with an engineer and they
are working on a site plan.

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Specifications vary widely- and some oil that
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Q: What is viscosity? Isn’t it just that 5W-30
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A: Viscosity is the primary quality of a
lubricant that influences its efficiency, often
referred to as ‘thickness’ (actually it’s the
resistance to flow at specific temps). Most
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cold and hot- the number before W is the
viscosity cold (winter) and the number after is
viscosity hot. It’s essential to use the correct
viscosity to protect your engine.

77 Leeson Dr. Chatham

519-354-3070

armstrongmacko.com

PAGE 12

THE CHATHAM VOICE

News

Thursday, February 16, 2017
• Friend Speed Dating (for 20 and 30 somethings) from 6:30pm-8:00pm at the Chatham
branch of the CKPL. Registration is required.
Visit search.ckpl.ca and search Friend Speed
Dating or call your local branch.
• Open euchre at 1:00pm at The Chatham
Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.
• Special Sing-A-Long with MPP Rick Nicholls
in the main dining room at 10:30am.
• Gary McGill will perform in the West
Lounge at 2:00pm. Meadow Park, Sandy St.,
Chatham.
• Baby Leads For Expectant Families and
Parents who have children under the age of
two. 11:00am-12:00pm, Dr. Wendy Edwards,
guest speaker, Topic: Resources - Open to the
Public at Thamesview Family Health Team,
465 Grand Ave West, Chatham 519-354-0070
ext.602.
Friday, February 17, 2017
• Karaoke Night at RC Merlin Legion Branch
465 with M&M’s DJing Service. 7:00pm10:00pm.
• Meal and fun darts at The Chatham Legion,
William & Colborne St., Chatham. Dinner
5:30pm-7:00pm with choice of roast turkey,
roast beef or fish and chips for $9.00. One
meat draw. Fun darts at 7:30pm.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
• Ernest & Marc King Memorial Euchre Tournament at Immaculée Conception Parish Hall
in Pain Court. Registration at 11:00am, play
starts at 12:00 noon sharp. 2 person teams
- $10.00 per person. For more info contact
Norb King at 519-436-3444.
• Music with Bill in the West Lounge at
2:00pm. Meadow Park, Sandy St., Chatham.
• Meat draw and dance at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Meat
draw from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Dance from
4:30pm-9:30pm featuring Manpower.
Monday, February 20, 2017
• Open House at the haven. New Beginning
House welcomes you and your family to
take a tour of our facility. Overnight service
is starting up soon, so come see everything
that is set up for the homeless men in our
community. Tours running on the hour and
half hour from 10:00am-2:00pm.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
• Book Club from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Tea
Connection, 15 King St. E., Chatham. Call for
details 226-671-0081.
• Open euchre, shuffleboard and 2 person
euchre at The Chatham Legion, William
& Colborne St., Chatham. Open euchre at
1:00pm and 2 person registration at 6:30pm
to play at 7:00pm. $5.00 per person. Shuffleboard at 7:00pm.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017
• Jeremy Smith will perform in the West
Lounge at 2:00pm. Meadow Park, Sandy St.,
Chatham.
• Pepper and fun darts at The Chatham
Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.
Pepper at 1:00pm and darts at 7:00pm.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
• Misty Melodies karaoke afternoon in the
West Lounge at 1:30pm. Meadow Park, Sandy St., Chatham.
• Open euchre at 1:00pm at The Chatham
Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham.
• FOR ALL VETERANS, The Chatham Legion,
William & Colborne St., Chatham will have
ONTARIO Provincial Command Service Bureau’s, Provincial Service Officer, Ms. Rebecca
Calden from London Service Bureau visiting
at approximately 10:30am. This is for anyone
wishing information, advice or assistance,
regarding disability benefits, referrals for
entitled veterans, information with rehabilitation, applications for benevolent funds,
war veterans allowance and assistance for
widows.
Friday, February 24, 2017
• Meal and fun darts at The Chatham Legion,
William & Colborne St., Chatham. Dinner
5:30pm-7:00pm with choice of liver and
onions, roast beef or fish and chips for $9.00.
One meat draw. Fun darts at 7:30pm.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
• 2 person euchre tournament at the RC
Merlin Legion Branch 465. 2 Stanley St., Merlin. $20 for team of 2. Registration 12:15pm.
Play 1:00pm sharp.
• Meat draw and dance at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St., Chatham. Meat
draw from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Dance from
4:30pm-9:30pm featuring Allen James.
Monday, February 27, 2017
• Everyone’s favourite fiddler - Ryan St. Denis
will perform in the West Lounge at 2:00pm.
Meadow Park, Sandy St., Chatham.
• Senior Euchre at The Chatham Legion, William & Colborne St, Chatham at 1:00pm.
CK Animal Rescue is holding a gigantic garage
sale on March 18, 2017. Yard Sale Vendor
Tables for Rent - $35 for one table and $10
per extra table until March. 11. Business
Vendors Wanted - $60 per 10ft space. John
D. Bradley Convention Centre, 565 Richmond
St., Chatham. Contact us to register, to sponsor or to reserve your table - 519-354-5000.
ckanimalrescue.com.
PAWR at the animal shelter phone number
for lost and stray pets and issues at the dog
parks: 226-996-9969 daytime. Emergency
and after-hours number: 519-784-6146.
Animal Cruelty and neglect cases call direct
310-7722 or 310-SPCA.
Submit your coming events to
bruce@chathamvoice.com or
michelle@chathamvoice.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Local churches
seek home for
makeover
The Chatham Voice

For the last eight years, First Presbyterian and First Christian Reformed Churches have undertaken
a joint mission project in Chatham.
Over two days, a group of volunteers transforms the outside of a
house for a needy individual. In the
past, they have scraped and painted
houses, built wheelchair ramps and
fences, done general carpentry repairs, replaced eaves troughs, landscaped, and done general cleanup
around a house. This is done free of
charge as an outreach of love and
compassion to the homeowner.
This year’s project will take place
on Aug. 11-12.
The churches are looking for a
homeowner in Chatham whose
home needs some repair. The recipient must own his/her home, live
on the premises, and have homeowner insurance. Unfortunately,
because of liability, the churches are
not able to repair roofs. All work
must be done to the exterior of the

house.
If you have this kind of need because of disability or other circumstances or you know of someone
that would benefit from this project, please reply in writing to the
Backyard Mission Project, First
Presbyterian Church, 60 Fifth St.,
Chatham, Ont., N7L 4V7.
Alternatively, send your request
via e-mail to office@firstchatham.
org.
Please put “Backyard Mission” in your email message header.
Include in your reply the name
and address of the individual(s),
what needs to be done around the
home, reasons why this would be
a worthy project to be undertaken,
some assurance of home ownership
and home insurance, and whether
you are the homeowner or are nominating someone else.
Once the churches have assessed
all the submissions, someone will
notify the homeowner of the chosen
project.
For more information, go to www.
firstchurch.org.

New leadership
structure at CKHA
The Chatham Voice

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
(CKHA) officials have released the
composition of its Medical Advisory
Committee.
Over the last few months, CKHA
leadership worked closely with
its medical staff to complete a new
medical leadership structure. The
new structure reflects a program
management model where physician leaders hold both the position
of chief, reporting to the chief of
staff, and medical director, reporting
to the vice-president with responsibility for clinical program.
This model requires physician
leaders and hospital administrators
to work collaboratively to support
quality care and resource utilization
within each program.
“This effort has been an impressive demonstration of the vision
and leadership of our medical staff
in working collaboratively with us
on this process,” Rob Devitt, hospital supervisor, said in a release.
“Through a competency-based selection process, we are confident our
new medical leadership will ensure
we continue our focus on providing
high-quality, patient-centred care
while ensuring value and accountability within the healthcare system.”
The new chief and medical pro-

gram directors are as follows:
Surgery – Dr. Elizabeth Haddad,
Chief of Surgery and Co-Medical
Director of the Surgical Program
Anaesthesia – Dr. James Paintsil,
Chief of Anaesthesia and Co-Medical Director of the Surgical Program
Medicine – Dr. Mahmud Rajabalee,
Chief and Program Medical Director
of Medicine.
Family Medicine – Dr. Zeke
Milkovic, Chief and Program Medical Director of Family Medicine.
Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/
Gyn) – Dr. Neerja Sharma, Chief of
OB/Gyn and Co-Medical Director
of the Women and Children’s Program.
Laboratory Services – Dr. Reda
Saad, Chief and Program Medical
Director of Laboratory Services.
Diagnostic Imaging – Dr. Francis
Musyoki, Chief and Program Medical Director of Diagnostic Imaging
The Chief and Medical Directors
positions for Emergency, Pediatrics
and Mental Health & Addictions remain in progress. In the interim, Dr.
Jennifer MacKinnon continues to
serve as Chief and Program Medical
Director for the Emergency Department, and Dr. Pervez Faruqi as Chief
of Psychiatry and Program Medical
Director of Mental Health & Addictions, as well as Interim Chief of Pediatrics and Co-Medical Director of
the Women and Children’s Program.

THE CHATHAM VOICE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 13

Funding
must match
need for
seniors’ care
in Ontario

By Mary Beth Corcoran
mary@chathamvoice.com

Ontario’s 600 long-term care
homes are asking for your help
to make better seniors’ care a
priority for the 2017 Ontario
budget.
According to Meadow Park
administrator Anne Marie
Rumble, the plan is about improving the foundation of the
sector and ensuring long-term
care homes have the resources
needed to support all residents
with the best possible care.
“Today’s seniors have more
complex medical needs that
must be supported by the
health system they have grown
to depend on. Over the next
10 years, it is expected that the
number of seniors will grow,
and by extension, so will the
demands for long-term care.
The sector is doing its part,
but cannot meet this challenge
head on if we aren’t better supported,” Rumble said in a release.
Almost half of all Ontario’s
long-term care homes were
built to design standards dating back to 1973 and need significant renovations or to be rebuilt for the comfort, security
and health of residents.
“Residents deserve the best
care and homes we are able to
provide – including improved
buildings with more space,”
she added.
Rumble said Meadow Park
is doing its part by gathering
signatures on a petition (which
is also available at www.BetterSeniorsCare.ca) as well as
hosting a Vendor Fair and Career Fair on March 15 from 2
p.m.-4 p.m. There will be information about services in longterm care, refreshments, entertainment and a chance to win
prizes. Meadow Park is also inviting individuals interested in
a nursing career to stop in with
their resume.
In 2016, Meadow Park Chatham helped to submit 1,621

letters to MPP Rick Nichols
and help make seniors’ care a
priority at Queen’s Park – they
hope to top that number this
year with your help.
Lydia Swant, co-ordinator of
volunteer services at Meadow
Park, said they have been promoting the Better Seniors’ Care
campaign for quite a few years.
Meadow Park was opened in
1979; the issue of upgrading
older facilities, she said, is an
important one to them.
“Particular to our home, it is
an aging home and it’s important to ensure older homes are
rebuilt in a timely fashion and
services are updated,” Swant
said. “We do our best to keep
our home friendly with a good
aesthetic. At the end of the day,
our goal is to provide a place
where people can feel as close
to home as possible.”
She added there is a need as
well for adequate funding for
staff, especially to provide for
the specific needs of people
who come to long-term care
homes with issues such as de-

Chatham Voice file photo

Anne Marie Rumble, centre, shown with two Meadow Park Nursing Home residents, said the province’s longterm care homes need the public’s help to pressure the province to improve funding for seniors’ care.

mentia, brain injuries or
Down’s Syndrome.
“We need to ensure
their needs are met
as well,” Swant said,
adding long-term care
homes aren’t just for
the elderly any more.
“Long-term care homes
are seeing quite a range
of folks out there and
our job is to provide
care to the people who
need it.”
There are solutions,
and Swant encourages people to learn
more at www.BetterSeniorsCare.ca and sign
the petition asking the
government to step
up its funding for long
term care.

Helping Seniors Live
Independently at
Home
Transportation. Frozen
Meals. Home Helper.
Support Services

Thank you to my family, friends and
neighbours who helped me celebrate my
90th birthday on January 22nd at
Blazin BBQ. Your cards, flowers, gifts
and memories shared were very much
appreciated. It was especially nice
seeing so many people that you think
about often but seldom see.
Thank you all again for sharing
this very special day with me.
Bette Suitor

How To Write A Memoir
Workshop for Writers of All Ages
William Street Cafe
Tuesdays 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
March 7 - April 11
Cost: $125.00
Contact Patricia Pook - 519-674-5057
or ppook18693@gmail.com

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Please give us a call at
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CHATHAMVOICE.COM

THE CHATHAM VOICE

PAGE 16

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

News

Program helps kids live the Goodlife
Treatment Centre’s adaptive swim program builds variety of skills

lives.
“The centre’s recreation
programs, like Adapted
The GoodLife Kids Foun- Swim, allow the children
dation recently presented in our community with
the Children’s Treatment special needs to particiCentre Foundation with a pate in and enjoy quality
$7,500 cheque in support recreation opportunities,
of the centre’s Adapted that otherwise may not be
viable through commuSwim Program.
This is the second con- nity programming,” said
Litwin-Makey,
secutive year that the Donna
GoodLife Kids Founda- Executive Director of the
Children’s
tion – which
focuses its “The kids are learning Tr e a t m e n t
support on quite a bit from it. Even Centre.
T w i n
p r o g r a m s when they get home,
brothers
that
enLuca
and
c o u r a g e they are still talking
Ellio Leggii n c l u s i v e , about it.”
ero, age 4,
sustainable - Parent Joe Leggiero
who were
physical
activity – has provided born premature, take part
funding to the Centre’s in the Adapted Swim, and
their father, Joe, said the
Adapted Swim Program.
The Adapted Swim Pro- program has been good
gram is open to all centre for them.
“The kids are learning
clients, age three through
21, who have physical, quite a bit from it. Even
developmental or com- when they get home, they
munication
challenges. are still talking about it,”
The program addresses Leggiero said of the proand builds on a variety gram. “I can see they are
of skills and abilities, in- getting better (at swimcluding recreation and ming skills) every day.
physical activity, pool They aren’t scared of the
safety and awareness, ba- water anymore.”
The Children’s Treatsic swimming skills, transition skills, communica- ment Centre and Foundation are thrilled to have
tion and social skills.
Most importantly, the the support of like-mindskills learned in the ed organizations, like the
Adapted Swim Program GoodLife Kids Foundaare transferable to other tion, with a commitment
physical activity and rec- to all children, of all abilreation programs outside ities, to participate in and
of the Centre, helping the enjoy quality, sustainable
children in our communi- physical activity.
“We’re very appreciaty to live healthy, active
By Mary Beth Corcoran
mary@chathamvoice.com

Second shadow
cabinet role for
MPP Nicholls

to run in the 2018 provincial election, will continue
Chatham-Kent
Essex his Legislative duties as a
MPP Rick Nicholls has Deputy Speaker.
taken on a second
“Provincial figshadow cabinet
ures show that
position with the
tourism in Chaprovincial
Protham-Kent alone
gressive Conserbrings in roughly
vatives – critic for
$70 million every
Tourism, Culture
year to local busiand Sport.
nesses, so I am
He also stays on
looking forward
as the critic for
to push for ways
Corrections.
to better promote
Rick Nicholls
In addition to his
this region and
expanded critic
our great provroles, Nicholls, who was ince overall,” Nicholls
also recently acclaimed said in a release.
The Chatham Voice

tive of the GoodLife Kids
Foundation’s continued
support of our Adapted
Recreation
programs,”
said Mike Genge, Executive Director of the Children’s Treatment Centre
Foundation.
Goodlife activity co-ordinator at the Downtown
Chatham Centre location,

Ashton Atkinson, explained the Spin 4 Kids
fundraiser is conducted
Canada-wide by participating gyms. This is the
fourth year the Chatham
location has participated.
“One hundred per cent
of the amount raised
goes to the Goodlife Kids
Foundation,” Atkinson

explained. “The next Spin
4 Kids event is coming
March 4 at the Downtown
Chatham Centre starting
at 9 a.m. with spin classes over five hours. Participants gets sponsors or
pledges and can do one
class or all five hours.”
She said the goal for
the Chatham Goodlife is

$5,000 and they are hoping the community will
help them reach their goal
so they can continue to
help kids in the area.
“The money goes right
back into the community.
Our goal is give every Canadian child a chance to
live a fit and healthy good
life,” Atkinson added.

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